ABSTRACT

Productive and economic efficiencies of broiler chicken fed some dietary leaf meal as plant protein sources was investigated. These plant protein leaves (cassava leaves, centrocema leaves and calapogonium leaves) were used in partial replacement of soyabean meal at 7.5% level of substitution. The trial lasted for 5 weeks. One hundred and twenty (120) broiler chickens were used for the feeding trial. Four (4) diet designated 1, 2, 3, and 4 were used in a completely Randomized Design (CRD). Each of the treatments had 3 replicates and there were ten (10) birds in each replicate. 7.5% of the included soyabean meal was replaced with each of the leaf meal in Diets 2, 3, and 4. Diet 1 served as the control diet for diets 2, 3, and Diet 4. The results showed that mean daily feed intake and mean daily weight gain ranged from 53.83g to 58.44g and 14.47g to 17.72g respectively. While feed-to-gain ratio ranged from 3.29 to 3.75. Daily feed intake, Total feed intake and Feed — to — gain ratio showed no significant (P> 0.05) difference, but final body weight gain were significantly different (P< 0.05). Apart from cost 1 kg Diet (N) which was significantly influenced, other parameters considered for the economics of production were not (P > 0.05). The Various leaf meal included in the diets of the birds significantly lowered total body weight gain, this is an indication that the leaf meal cannot replace the plant protein source — soya bean meal.